Maternal obesity and vitamin D sufficiency are associated with cord blood vitamin D insufficiency.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Jan;98(1):114-9. doi: 10.1210/jc.2012-2882. Epub 2012 Nov 8.
Josefson JL, Feinglass J, Rademaker AW, Metzger BE, Zeiss DM, Price HE, Langman CB.
Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2605, USA. J-Josefson at northwestern.edu
CONTEXT: An inverse relationship between total serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH D) and increased adiposity has been established in children, adolescents, and adults. However, the relationship between neonatal adiposity and vitamin D status has not been reported. Both maternal obesity and vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy are common and are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between vitamin D levels in mothers and newborns, as influenced by maternal obesity, and evaluate these associations with neonatal adiposity.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Sixty-one maternal-neonatal pairs participated in this cross-sectional study at an academic medical center.
Mothers had a prepregnancy body mass index that was normal or obese.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal and cord blood sera were assayed for 25-OH D, and neonatal body composition was measured by air displacement plethysmography.
RESULTS: Mothers had similar and sufficient levels of 25-OH D when measured at 36-38 wk gestation, irrespective of body mass index category (normal weight, 46.05, vs. obese, 49.84 ng/ml; P = not significant). However, cord blood 25-OH D was higher in neonates of normal-weight mothers compared to neonates of obese mothers (27.45 vs. 20.81 ng/ml; P = 0.02).
The variance in cord blood 25-OH D was explained by four factors:
- maternal 25-OH D level,
- the presence of maternal obesity,
- maternal age, and
- neonatal adiposity (r(2) = 0.66).
CONCLUSION: Obese women transfer less 25-OH D to offspring than normal-weight women, despite similar serum levels.
Cord blood 25-OH D levels directly correlate to neonatal percentage body fat.
These novel findings unders core the evolving relationships between maternal obesity, vitamin D nutritional status, and adiposity in the neonatal period that may influence subsequent childhood and adulthood vitamin D-dependent processes.
PMID: 23144468
Summary by Vitamin D Life
| Measured | Normal | Obese |
| Mother | 46 ng | 50 ng |
| Cord | 27 ng | 21 ng |
Wonder how they found so many pregnant women with high levels of vitamin D ( average of 47 ng)
Do not recall seeing this kind of association before